The Spingboks have Eddie Jones and we think it’s fantastic that we have him controlling our backline and that we are getting one up on the Aussies.
I saw Alan Donald being interviewed when England was playing SA in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Strangely though, he was not wearing SA kit. He was wearing England kit. My first reaction was to swear at him and call him a traitor. But then I thought about it and decided that he is doing what is best for him, his family and his career. His career is cricket. The job takes him wherever it takes him.
If he were a banker and he was promoted and asked to head up the British branch in London, we’d all applaud him, but because it is sport, our beloved sport, we berate people like Donald. And he isn’t alone. There are many SA sportsmen and women playing sports for other nations. Just look at the Rugby World Cup. Almost every team in the tournament has an ex-SA player playing for them.
I want to know what you think. Is Donald out of his mind? Is he simply earning a living and why is it that he isn’t the bowling coach for SA?
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September 19th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I think we are ignorant in berating people like Donald and other players plying theiur trade overseas.
Isn’t it about spotting an opportunity and going for it. Isn’t that what we try and encourage among our peers?
It goes slightly deeper when players such as Kevin Peterson leaves under cloud of controversy. Fact of the matter is, he is a brilliant batsmen, spotted a great opportunity and made the best of it.
We love to hate him, and he loves to smack us out of the park.
You gotta love sport.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Its a professional game, players and coaches go where they are offered a job, did CSA offer Donald a job ? Much like Eddie Jones, the Aussies didn’t have a job for him and branded him a traitor despite the fact he hasn’t worked with the Wallabies since 2003 – he got a chance to go the RWC and he took it.
KP made his choices, and credit to him as he has succeed, but the fact remains his attitude is very self centered, if you go read a lot of the English press they like the player and not the man. He has to live with it.
Loyalty to a country is trumped by your worth – sad to say but its the reality of the times we live in.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised by both of your comments. I wholeheartedly agree with everything that you have both said!
I also appreciate the early comments. I hate getting to work so early!
Although I must say that I had a discussion with someone who knows Donald and he is steadfast in the fact that Donald left cause he is an arrogant prick – not my word – and that he is better off in another team.
It seems that Jonty is doing fabulously for SA so there is no real need for Donald, so maybe we just didn’t have a job for him as you’ve said already.
September 19th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
The upsetting thing is that we lost one of our most succesful bowlers to a foreign team. He wanted to stay in SA, and CSA managed to convince him a year ago to stay as they will accomodate him.
Not a year later, he is gone. CSA, with all its political shenanigans, let Donald go.
Donald needs to look after himself and his family. Whats sad is that he just wanted to be involved, and we never allowed that to happen
September 19th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Henre – Agreed, if it was the SA governing bodies that messed this up then I 100% agree with your comments. Even if it wasn’t that and he chose to leave I think it’s OK that he left.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Allan Donald is an inspiration. He is representing South African cricket much better coaching a foreign international team than he would be coaching a provincial South African team.
It’s amazing how much the English team respect Allan, it was evident when I saw him coaching the bowlers at Lords before their game vs West Indies.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I think it’s brilliant and healthy. A Free State guy coaching England bowlers ! Sport brings us all together and unshackles the bad side of national pride. Roll on Jose Mourinho and how about Jake for England rugby ? (Manchester lad, wie baie Afrikaans praat )